Things to do before you Die

Skydive

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 01:31:00 PDT

DSLR Camera

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:30:00 PST

Cameras are very impotant as you wann a capture a Memento of Places and time of your Life

i recommend you to buy Nikon D3100

DSLR D3100

Announced : 19-08-2010

An entry level digital-SLR camera with a new CMOS image sensor, image-processing engine and helpful Guide mode that makes capturing beautiful images easy.

Technical features

Type of Camera	Single-lens reflex digital camera
Effective Pixels	14.2 million
Image Sensor	Nikon DX format (23.1 x 15.4 mm) CMOS sensor
Image Size (Pixels)	4,608 x 3,072 [L], 3,456 x 2,3404 [M], 2,304 x 1,536 [S]
Sensitivity	ISO 100 to 3200 in steps of 1 EV, plus HI-1 (ISO 6400) and HI-2 (ISO 12800)
File Format	NEF (12 bit compressed RAW); JPEG (Baseline-compliant); MOV movie (H.264/MPEG-4 compression format with monaural sound)
Storage Media	SD memory card (SDHC and SDXC compliant)
Shooting Modes	1) Single frame shooting mode, 2) Continuous shooting mode: approx. 3fps, 3) Self-timer mode, 4) Quiet Shutter Release
White Balance	Auto (TTL white-balance with 420-pixel RGB sensor), Incandescent, Fluorescent, Direct sunlight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, White balance preset
LCD Monitor	3.0", 230,000-dot, low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD
Playback Function	1) Full-frame, 2) Movie Playback, 3) Thumbnail (4/9/72, calendar) playback, 4) playback zoom, 5) Faces detected during zoom, 6)Slide show 7) RGB histogram display, 8) Highlights, 9) Auto image rotation, 10) Image comment
Delete Function	Single image, Selected images, images taken on a selected date, All images (except protected images)
Interface	USB 2.0 (High-speed), Video output, HDMI output (Type C mini-pin connector)
Picture Angle (in 35mm [135] format equivalent)	Approx. 1.5x lens focal length
Viewfinder	Eye-level penta-Dach mirror type; built-in diopter adjustment (-1.7 to +0.5m-1)
Focusing Screen	Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VII screen
Viewfinder Frame Coverage/Magnification (with 50mm lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1)	Approx. 95%/ Approx. 0.8x
Autofocus	TTL phase detection by Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module with AF-assist (range approx. 0.5-3m); 11 focus point; Detection range: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100 at 20°C/68°F)
Focus Modes	1) Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); Continuous servo AF (AF-C); Auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A), predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status 2) Manual focus (MF) can be selected
Exposure Metering System	1) 3D color matrix metering Ⅱ (type G and D lenses), color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses), 2) Center-weighted (weight given to 8-mm circle in center of frame), 3) Spot metering (meters 3.5-mm circle centered on selected focus point)
Exposure Metering Range (at normal temperature [68Â°F/20Â°C], ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens)	1) 0 to 20 EV (3D-Color Matrix or Center-weighted metering), 2) 2 to 20 EV (Spot metering)
Exposure Control	1) Digital Vari-Program (Auto, Auto [Flash Off], Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close Up, Night Portrait), 2) Programmed Auto [P], 3) Shutter-Priority Auto [S], 4) Aperture Priority Auto [A], 5) Manual [M], 6) Guide mode
Auto Exposure Bracketing	No
Shutter	Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter, 30 to 1/4000sec in steps of 1/3 EV plus bulb
Sync Contact	X-contact only; flash synchronization at up to 1/200 sec
Flash Control	1) TTL: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR using 420-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash and SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-400, 2) Auto aperture: Available with SB-900 or SB-800 and CPU lens, 3) Non-TTL auto: Supported flash units include SB-900, SB-800, SB-28, SB-27, and SB-22S, 4) Distance-priority manual: Available with SB-900 and SB-800
Flash Sync Modes	1) Front-curtain sync, 2) Red-eye reduction, 3) Slow sync with red-eye reduction, 4) Slow sync, 5) rear-curtain sync
Self-Timer	Electronically controlled timer with duration of 2 or 10s.
Remote Control	Via Remote Cord MC-DC2 (optional)
GPS	via GP-1 GPS Unit (optional)
Supported Languages	Total of 20 languages:Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
Power Requirements	Rechargeable EN-EL14 Li-ion battery, EH-5a AC adapter (available separately; requires optional EP-5A power connector )
Battery Life (on a fully charged battery)	Approx. 550 shots
Tripod Socket	1/4 in. (ISO1222)
Dimensions	Approx. 124 x 96 x 74.5 mm
Weight (without battery, memory card or body cap)	Approx. 455g
Supplied Accessories (may differ by country or area)	Rechargeable Li-ion battery EN-EL14, Quick charger MH-24, Rubber Eyecup DK-20, Camera strap AN-DC3, Body cap BF-1B, Eyepiece cap DK-5, Accessory shoe cover BS-1, View NX 2 CD, 2 Ferrite core
Other Features	Expeed 2 Image Processing Engine, Graphical User Interface, Guide Mode, D-Movie (Full HD recording), Full-time servo AF (AF-F) movie recording Via Nikon

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YouTube - A Picture A Day

My Story

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 19:52:00 PDT

A Picture A Day

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 19:32:00 PDT

A Picture A Day

Like the video then check this post here

Rafting

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:41:00 PDT

Bungee Jump

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:13:00 PDT

The Australian Open

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:11:00 PST

From Wikipedia

The Australian Open is the first of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments held each year. The tournament is held in January at Melbourne Park. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was contested on grass until 1987. Since 1988, the tournament has been held on hard courts at Melbourne Park. Mats Wilander is the only male player to have won the tournament on both grass and hard courts.

Like all other Grand Slam tournaments, there are men's and women's singles competitions; men's, women's, and mixed doubles; junior's, wheelchair, exhibition and legends' competitions.
The two main courts used in the tournament are Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena and feature retractable roofs, which can be shut in case of rain or extreme heat. The Australian Open and Wimbledon are the only Slams with indoor play.
Held in the middle of the Australian summer, the Australian Open is famous for extremely hot days. An extreme-heat policy is put into play when temperatures (and humidity) reach dangerous levels.

Falls Creek

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:47:00 PDT

With the onset of winter most all who have dream of a true, snowy, winter experience. To have the unbelievably good fortune of making snowmen, having snowball fights and making snow angels is every person’s dream. This dream can be realised at Falls Creek, the ultimate Winter Wonderland for families.

Located 4-and-a-half hours from Melbourne and 8 hours from Sydney, Falls Creek is truly remarkable skiing country for the family and was voted Australia’s best skiing resort according to the review section at www.ski.com.au.

There are plenty of activities to suit every member of the family. Apart from skiing, Falls Creek includes an Adventure Park which offers fun activities that the kids, and even adults, will love. You can race your friends on snow bikes (bicycles with skis instead of wheels), speed down the hillside on toboggans or live your dream and roll down slopes at the Snowtube Park. The Bowl even offers night riding, where those of you who haven’t had enough of skiing or snowboarding during the day can swoop down the slopes to your heart’s content.

For those who are less inclined to hurtle down the mountainside on snow equipment, Falls Creek offers Backcountry Snowmobile tours and Sled Dog tours where you can drink in the beauty of the Bogong High Plains. And for all you hard-working mothers, you can indulge yourself with a massage or yoga class to help you truly relax.

To prove that Falls Creek is definitely family friendly, they provide children’s programs to keep your little ones entertained. Children can register for the MILO Snowclub 4 Kids (3-5 years) or MILO Junior Workshop (6-14 years). Both cater for all skiers, whether they are beginners or more advanced, and the kids have their own little snow kingdom for skiing and tobogganing in the newly created Fox Trail.

ToboganningFoxtrail, specifically created for three to fourteen year olds, is an interactive kids terrain park.

Falls Creek now have a new chairlift, aptly named Drover's Dream. This will be the only new ski lift installed in Australia this winter.

Childcare is also available with two 4-hour sessions daily. The cost is $50 per child and bookings before your visit are essential due to limited space.

Accommodation for children is also catered for, with plenty of lodgings offering varying discounts or free accommodation for children. Falls Creek Hotel lets children under 5 years stay free and offers a 50% discount for children between 5 – 14 years. There is also an optional Kool 4 Kids Klub, which provides supervision while mum and dad relax with a glass of wine and a four-course dinner.

If you are travelling from interstate, QantasLink offers direct flights from Sydney to Albury and has connecting flights to all other major capitals. Once you are at Albury Airport, board a Pyles coach, an excellent way to travel to Falls Creek. These Coach services depart from Melbourne, Albury and Mt Beauty and offer a comfortable ride as you anticipate the snowy wonder that awaits you.

If you intend to drive it will behelpful for you to know that although the road to Falls Creek is cleared daily, it is compulsory to travel with tyre chains. You can hire these at ski shops in Towanga South or Mt Beauty.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Falls Creek
tel: 03 5758 3100
fax: 03 5758 3337

website: www.fallscreek.com.au
Up-to-the-minute Ski reports: www.ski.com.au
via http://www.holidayswithkids.com.au/feature_stories/falls_creek

Photosynth

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:27:00 PDT

Photosynth creates an amazing new experience with nothing more than a bunch of photos. Creating a synth allows you to share the places and things you love using the cinematic quality of a movie, the control of a video game, and the mind-blowing detail of the real world.

Photosynth allows you to take a bunch of photos of the same scene or object and automagically stitch them all together into one big interactive 3D viewing experience that you can share with anyone on the web.

Photosynth is a potent mixture of two independent breakthroughs: the ability to reconstruct the scene or object from a bunch of flat photographs, and the technology to bring that experience to virtually anyone over the Internet.

Using techniques from the field of computer vision, Photosynth examines images for similarities to each other and uses that information to estimate the shape of the subject and the vantage point each photo was taken from. With this information, we recreate the space and use it as a canvas to display and navigate through the photos.

Providing that experience requires viewing a LOT of data though—much more than you generally get at any one time by surfing someone’s photo album on the web. That’s where our Seadragon™ technology comes in: delivering just the pixels you need, exactly when you need them. It allows you to browse through dozens of 5, 10, or 100(!) megapixel photos effortlessly, without fiddling with a bunch of thumbnails and waiting around for everything to load.

you can download it from here -- http://photosynth.net/create.aspx

Via :- http://photosynth.net/

Visually Track Your Appearance ( Project )

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:06:00 PDT

I am working on the project Visually Track Your Appearance

this is the video that inspired me,,

In 2000 artist Noah Kalina started taking a photo of himself every day . In August 2006, he put together a nearly 6 minute video of these photos, chronicling over 2300 days, up on YouTube. It has since been viewed over 8 million times and has spawned a number of imitators (though it should be noted that some of these immitation videos were in progress before Kalina put his video on the web). What Kalina and others did always struck me as a good idea and a really interesting way to visually track the changes in our outward appearance. I started on a project of my own to take a daily picture of my face after seeing Kalina's YouTube video, but I quickly found out that taking a picture of yourself every day can be a major pain in the butt.

A new web site, Daily Mugshot, plays off Kalina's idea and offers tools that make it easier for people to track their own daily photographic evolution. Founder Keith Gould was clearly as intrigued as I was by Kalina and says he was inspired by him.

"The Daily Mugshot began when I came across a dude who took a picture of himself every day and turned it into a video. He had taken pictures of himself every day for years, and the video was amazing. I thought: I want to do that too," says Gould on the Daily Mugshot site.

The site launched in closed beta last November and is still very much a work in progress. In addition to offering an application that allows users to take a photo of themselves with a web cam and archive it, the application also issues reminders when it is time to take a photo, and creates an embeddable widget slideshow of your pictures similar to Kalina's video. A gallery on the site shows of these slideshows and allows people to comment on them.

For now the only way to get pictures into the app is via web cam, but Gould is working on adding upload functionality to the site.

While Daily Mugshot likely doesn't have broad appeal and has limited use as a social network (Gould is planning to add some social features to help people keep track of specific mugshot users), it is a useful application for anyone who wants to create a daily picture chronicle. Gould created the site as a fun side project because he was inspired by a YouTube video and wanted to make the process of emulating Noah Kalina as painless as possible, and I think he's succeeded.

Daily Mugshot

via;-
Visually Track Your Appearance with Daily Mugshot: "Visually Track Your Appearance"

SmartyPig Giftcard Giveaway - July :SmartyPig® (Missed)

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:54:00 PDT

SmartyPig Giftcard Giveaway - July

Welcome to the results show for the first ever SmartyPig Australia Twitter giftcard giveaway!

The first 20 people to send in a correct entry were:

yujiadu
mvjs
davlady
liasarus
jigesh
timmmayers
andrewlparker
mell19811
housebricks
bellad26
kyliejones86
mum5boys
carlyfindlay
chocpotatoes
miss_e_81
mattfindlay
elp
corinnepaterson
carnagefairy
manderinne

The three winners of the $100 SmartyPig gift cards were: miss_e_81, liazarus and chocpotatoes. If you haven't already, please send us a DM via Twitter with your mailing address so we can send you your gift card!

Thanks to all our players and we hope to see you again next month for giveaway number two

SmartyPig Giftcard Giveaway - July :SmartyPig®

I tried see...i was there on number 5..Jigesh....but was not lucky in the draw.

Posted using ShareThis

Lake Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:41:00 PDT

Image by Jigesh Desai via Flickr

Just 22km east of Marysville, in the Dandenong ranges is Lake Mountain, Melbourne’s premier cross country skiing destination. Fantastically positioned for snow adventures during winter, Lake Mountain is also surprisingly appealing in the warmer months.

At 1480m Lake Mountain is a popular destination for day-trippers from the city and those seeking a getaway not too far from home. During the warmer seasons 37kms of grassy ski trails are populated with abundant wildflowers. Bushwalking, bike riding and sight seeing are popular activities enjoyed by many visitors who realise the unique scenery and views of Melbourne and the Victorian Alps. The area also provides a cooler climate from the city and many people find it an excellent place to rejuvenate.

There is a diverse range of other activities around Lake Mountain. Try the trout farms abundant with fish, the stunning floodlit waterfalls, touring routes around the enchanted village of Marysville, a sculpture garden and a granite archway built in the 1800s. The Dandenong villages and Yarra Valley are also easily accessible from Lake Mountain.

Despite the excellent alternative activities that Lake Mountain has to offer, it really remains a Mecca for ski and snow play enthusiasts. The 2400ha of skiable area at Lake Mountain officially opens in mid June and weather dependant run through to October. There is a total of 37km of cross country ski trails and 7 toboggan slopes.

Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:21:00 PDT

The Basilica of Bom Jesus, "Good" or "Infant" Jesus, is a Catholic basilica in Goa, India. It is best known for housing the tomb of St. Francis Xavier, the Jesuit missionary to India and Japan.

One of the richest churches in Goa, the Basilica of Bom Jesus is covered with marble and inlaid with precious stones and paintings depicting the life of St. Francis Xavier. The basilica is considered the finest example of baroque architecture in India.

For Catholics, the chief importance of the Basilica of Bom Jesus is that it shelters the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. St. Francis's body was brought to Goa almost 150 years after his death. It was a gift from Medici, Cosimo III, the Grand Duke of Tuscany. It now lies in an airtight glass coffin, placed inside a silver casket fashioned by a 17th century Florentine jeweler.

In 1946, the Basilica of Bom Jesus became the first church of India to be elevated to the status of Minor Basilica. The chapel attracts large numbers of visitors every year.

From Goa

View Places To See Before You Die in Melbourne in a larger map

Overseas students finding it tough going

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:00:00 PDT

i am putting an article in this post as it was published in 2007 in The Age.

Overseas students finding it tough going
Deborah Gough
July 22, 2007
Age

JIGESH Desai still doesn't understand why a man on the tram started yelling
at him. A Cambridge International College student, Mr Desai had been
speaking on his mobile and the man was so irate it forced the
Indian-educated doctor off the tram.

"I have no idea why he was shouting at me," Mr Desai said.

As perplexed as he was, he could not tell his parents the truth ‹ that
sometimes he was sad about being away from his family.

"You must ring your parents every week, especially your mother when you are
from India, but there is no way I could have told her. There would be too
many questions and she would worry," he said.

A survey of international students from Mr Desai's college, RMIT and
Victoria universities found that two-thirds felt depressed or sad, and many
felt discriminated against.

The survey provides a rare glimpse into the wellbeing of international
students: an education cash cow worth an estimated $10 billion a year.

In a tight rental market, the students listed accommodation as one of their
biggest problems, with nearly half saying they had suffered discrimination
by real estate agents.

More than half said they had sexual health education in their home country
but nearly 85 per cent said they would attend more classes on slang and
culture if they were available.

Ninety-five per cent said they wanted to apply for permanent residency.

The report's author, Chris McRae, a former lecturer at Cambridge college,
said depression among international students was a serious issue.

"Sadness and loneliness is having an impact on students and that can easily
have an impact on students' health and studies," Mr McRae said.

The study called for more community-based services with counselling for
depression, housing, money, health and welfare.

Students also said their student cards were rarely accepted as proof of
identity and there was a need for an international student identity card.
All but a handful said international students should also get public
transport concessions.

National Union of Students international students spokesman Eric Pang said
students needed to be given a clear and regularly updated picture of the
rental market before they arrived in Australia.

"It is no good being told there is plenty of housing for a certain price
only to get here and find it is the exception rather than the rule," Mr Pang
said.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/overseas-students-finding-it-tough-go
ing/2007/07/21/1184560109186.html

Frame Project

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:27:00 PDT

Iphone 3G S 32GB

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:13:00 PDT

Meet the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet. iPhone 3G S features video recording, Voice Control, up to 32GB of storage and more.

The Fastest iPhone Ever

The first thing you’ll notice about iPhone 3G S is how quickly you can launch applications. Web pages render in a fraction of the time and you can view email attachments faster. Improved performance and updated 3D graphics deliver an incredible gaming experience, too. In fact, everything you do on iPhone 3G S is up to 2x faster and more responsive than ever.

Video

Now you can shoot video, edit it and share it — all on your iPhone 3G S. Shoot high-quality VGA video in portrait or landscape. Trim your footage by adjusting start and end points. Then share your video in an email, post it to your MobileMe gallery, publish it on YouTube, or sync it back to your Mac or PC using iTunes.

3-Megapixel Camera

The new 3-megapixel camera takes great still photos, too, thanks to built-in autofocus and a handy new feature that lets you tap the display to focus on anything (or anyone) you want.

Voice Control

Voice Control recognizes the names in your Contacts and knows the music on your iPod. So if you want to place a call or play a song, all you have to do is ask.

Compass

With a built-in digital compass, iPhone 3G S can point the way. Use the new Compass app, or watch as it automatically reorients maps to match the direction you’re facing.

Cut, Copy & Paste

Cut, copy and paste words and photos, even between applications. Copy and paste images and content from the web, too.

Landscape Keyboard

Want more room to type on the intelligent software keyboard? Rotate iPhone to landscape to use a larger keyboard in Mail, Messages, Notes and Safari.

Messages

Send messages with text, video, photos, audio, locations and contact information. You can even forward one or more messages to others.

Accessibility

iPhone 3G S offers accessibility features to assist users who are visually or hearing impaired. These features include the VoiceOver screen reader, a Zoom feature, White on Black display options, Mono Audio and more.

Internet Tethering

Surf the web from practically anywhere. Now you can share the 3G connection on your iPhone with your Mac notebook or PC laptop.

Voice Memos

Capture and share a thought, a memo, a meeting, or any audio recording on the go with the new Voice Memos application.

Nike + iPod

iPhone includes built-in Nike + iPod support. Just slip the Nike + iPod Sensor (available separately) into your Nike+ shoe and start your workout.

Stocks

Stocks on iPhone shows you charts, financial details and headline news for any stock you choose. Rotate iPhone to see even more detailed information.

YouTube

Watch YouTube videos wherever you are. Log in to your YouTube account to save and sync bookmarks

Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 05:29:00 PDT

Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination

(My personal opinion i think sould go to see this if you are a Star Wars die hard fan)

Journey into a galaxy far, far away and discover the science behind the Star Wars films.

Could cars that hover above the ground become the mass transit of the future? Will we ever have droids like C-3PO? Fantasy and reality join forces in Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination.

The exhibition will feature authentic costumes and props from the entire Star Wars saga, such as Darth Vader’s menacing attire and Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder – used in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.

This is the first exhibition to showcase more than 80 costumes, interactive displays, models and props from all six Star Wars films, together with modern technologies that offer the potential to one day make the world of Star Wars a reality.

EVENT DETAILS

Event Type: Temporary Exhibition

Daily, Until 3 Nov 2009
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Thursdays, 11 Jun - 29 Oct 2009
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Scienceworks

Adults $18 Concession $8 Children (3-16yrs) $6
Includes general entry to Scienceworks
MV Members receive 50% discount
Tickets now on sale. Gift vouchers available.

Booking essential 13 11 02

Visiting informations for melbournians

Scienceworks is located just 5 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD.

Opening Hours and Admission Prices

Open daily 10am – 4:30pm
Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Adults $8, Concessions and Children free entry.
Additional charges may apply for temporary exhibitions

Melbourne Planetarium and Lightning Room shows each incur an additional charge of $5 Adults, $4 concessions and $3.50 child (3 - 16 years).

Address & Contact Details

Scienceworks and Melbourne Planetarium
2 Booker St, Spotswood, Victoria

Telephone

Bookings & Enquiries 13 11 02 (Victoria only)

03 9392 4800 (Australia-wide)
+61 3 9392 4800 (International)

For group bookings telephone 03 9392 4819

Postal Address

Scienceworks
PO Box 666
Melbourne VIC 3001
Australia

Disability Access

There is wheelchair access to Scienceworks from the Main Entrance with lift access to all exhibition levels of the museum.

There is wheelchair access to the Melbourne Planetarium; it is advisable that visitors arrive at the Planetarium foyer 10 - 15 mins before the show starts.

from:- http://museumvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/visiting/

http://www.cinematical.com/photos/celebrity-star-wars/2065863/

St Patrick Cathedral, Melbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:34:00 PDT

From St Patrick Cathedral

St Patrick's Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, and seat of its archbishop, currently Denis J. Hart. It is known internationally as a leading example of the Gothic Revival style of architecture.

In 1851, only 12 years after the foundation of Melbourne, the Colonial Secretary of Victoria granted the Roman Catholic Church a block of land for a church in the Eastern Hill area. Shortly afterwards the Augustinian friar James Goold arrived from Britain to found the See of Melbourne and become its first bishop. He decided to build his Cathedral on the Eastern Hill site. Since the Catholic community of Melbourne was at the time almost entirely Irish, the Cathedral was dedicated to St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

William Wardell, Melbourne's foremost ecclesiastical architect was commissioned to prepare plans for a Cathedral, but the project was delayed by severe labour shortages during the Gold Rush of 1851, which drew almost every able-bodied man in the colony to the goldfields, and the foundation stone was not laid un til 1858. The Cathedral was designed in the Gothic Revival style, based on the great mediæval cathedrals of England, a style at the height of its popularity in the mid 19th century. The nave is in the style known as Early English, while the rest of the building is in Geometric Decorated, a somewhat later Gothic style. Wardell went on to design the second St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney in a similar style.

Although the nave was completed within ten years, construction proceeded slowly, and was further delayed by the severe depression which hit Melbourne in 1891. It was 1897 before the Cathedral was consecrated, and even then it was not finished. Given the size of the Catholic community at the time, the massive bluestone Gothic cathedral was an immense and very expensive undertaking, and there were long delays while funds were raised. St Patrick's was the largest church brought to substantial completion anywhere in the world in the 19th century.

Daniel Mannix, who became Archbishop of Melbourne in 1917, maintained a constant interest in the cathedral, which he was determined to see finished after the long delays during the previous 30 years. He oversaw the addition of the spires and other elements in the late 1930s. The building was officially completed in 1939.

In 1970 Pope Paul VI became the first Pope to visit the Cathedral, and in 1974 he conferred the title and dignity of minor basilica on it. In 1986 Pope John Paul II visited the Cathedral and addressed clergy during his Papal Visit.

The Cathedral is built on a traditional east-west axis, with the altar at the eastern end, symbolising belief in the resurrection of Christ. The plan is in the style of a Latin cross, consisting of a nave with side aisles, transepts with side aisles, a sanctuary with seven chapels, and sacristies. It is 103.6 metres long on its long axis, 56.4 metres wide across the transepts and 25.3 metres wide across the nave. The nave and transepts are 28.9 metres high. The central spire is 105 metres high and the flanking towers and spires are 61.9 metres high.

To celebrate the centenary of its consecration in 1997, the Cathedral was restored and underwent conservation work, with funds contributed by the federal and Victorian governments, corporate and philanthropic donors and the community of Melbourne.

from:- Wikipedia

Cooks' Cottage , Melbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Sun, 31 May 2009 07:13:00 PDT

Image by Jigesh Desai via Flickr

Cooks' Cottage (also known as Captain Cook's Cottage) is located in the Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne, Australia. The cottage was constructed in 1755 in the English village of Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, by the parents of Captain James Cook, James and Grace Cook. It is a point of conjecture among historians whether James Cook, the famous navigator, ever lived in the house, but almost certainly he visited his parents at the house.

In 1933 the owner of the cottage decided to sell it with a condition of sale that the building remain in England. She was persuaded to change "England" to "the Empire", and accepted an Australian bid of £800, by Russell Grimwade as opposed to the highest local offer of £300.

The cottage was deconstructed brick by brick and packed into 253 cases and 40 barrels, for shipping onboard the Port Dunedin from Hull. Cuttings from ivy that adorned the house were also taken and planted when the house was re-erected in Melbourne. Grimwade, a notable businessman and philanthropist, donated the house to the people of Victoria for the centenary anniversary of the settlement of Melbourne in October 1934.

The cottage immediately became a popular tourist attraction. In 1978 further restoration work was carried out on the cottage. An English cottage garden has been established around the house, further adding to its period reconstruction. Very few of the items in the house are from the Cook family, but all are representative furnishings from the period.

Eight reasons why you must visit Cooks' Cottage:

Discover Melbourne's rich history and how Cooks' Cottage came to be one of the city's great landmarks.

Walk in the footsteps of Captain Cook's family through their two-storey cottage.

Learn all about Captain James Cook's life, his tragic death and his amazing voyages across the seas, including the legacy he left for future generations.

Experience what life was like in the 18th Century as you tour the historical cottage, its fascinating traditional English garden and the Discovery Centre.

Listen to sound recordings that create the atmosphere of a family meal at the Cook residence as well as the long awaited homecoming of their son, Captain James Cook.

Become a member of an 18th century family by posing for the perfect photo, at our photo board.

Purchase a Captain Cook memento or send a postcard back home via our postal service, with a special Cooks' Cottage franking stamp.

Stroll through a classic English cottage garden and learn about uses for herbs and plants in the good old days.

Location

Cooks' Cottage, Fitzroy Gardens
Wellington Parade
East Melbourne VIC 3002
Show on the map

Contact Details

Tel.:9419 4677
cookscottage@melbourne.vic.gov.au
www.cookscottage.com.au

Opening hours

Mon: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tue: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wed: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thu: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Fri: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sun: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Public Holiday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Features

Disabled Access

How to get there

Trams and buses: Metlink

View Larger Map

References

Official website
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooks%27_Cottage
Cooks' Cottage history

The Bhurj, Dubai

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Fri, 29 May 2009 05:55:00 PDT

Image by ¡Carlitos via Flickr

Burj Dubai (Arabic: برج دبي‎ "Dubai Tower") is a supertall skyscraper under construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the tallest man-made structure ever built, despite being incomplete. Construction began on 21 September 2004, and the tower is expected to be completed and ready for occupancy by September 2009.

The building is part of the 2 km2 (0.8 sq mi) development called "Downtown Burj Dubai" at the "First Interchange" along Sheikh Zayed Road at Financial Centre Road (previously known as Doha Street). The tower's architect is Adrian Smith, who worked with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) until 2006. The architecture and engineering firm SOM is in charge of the project.The primary builders are Samsung Engineering & Construction and Besix along with Arabtec. Turner Construction Company was chosen as the construction manager.

The total budget for the Burj Dubai project is about US$4.1 billion, and for the entire new "Downtown Dubai", US$20 billion.Mohamed Ali Alabbar, the CEO of Emaar Properties, speaking at the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat 8th World Congress, said that the price of office space at Burj Dubai had reached $4,000 per sq ft (over $43,000 per m2) and that the Armani Residences, also in Burj Dubai, were selling for US$3,500 per sq ft (over $37,500 per m2).
Contents

Current records

* Tallest structure: 818 m (2,684 ft) (previously KVLY-TV mast - 628.8 m (2,063 ft))
* Tallest freestanding structure: 818 m (2,684 ft) (previously CN Tower - 553.3 m (1,815 ft))
* Building with most floors: 160 (previously Sears Tower / World Trade Center - 110)
* Highest vertical concrete pumping (for a building): 601 m (1,972 ft) (previously Taipei 101 - 449.2 m (1,474 ft))
* Highest vertical concrete pumping (for any construction): 601 m (1,972 ft)[20] (previously Riva del Garda Hydroelectric Power Plant - 532 m (1,745 ft)
* First world's tallest structure in history that includes residential space.

Purpose

Burj Dubai has been designed to be the centerpiece of a large-scale, mixed-use development that will include 30,000 homes, nine hotels such as the Burj Dubai Lake Hotel & Serviced Apartments, 3 hectares (7.4 acres) of parkland, at least 19 residential towers, the Dubai Mall, and the 12-hectare (30-acre) man-made Burj Dubai Lake.

The building will return the title of Earth's tallest free-standing structure to the Middle East—a title not held by the region since 1311 when Lincoln Cathedral in England surpassed the height of the Great Pyramid of Giza, which had held the title for almost four millennia.

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From-Wikipedia

Crown Entertainment Complex, Melbourne, Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Mon, 25 May 2009 22:55:00 PDT

Image by Jigesh Desai via Flickr


Address: Crown Entertainment Complex
8 Whiteman St
Southbank VIC 3006
Phone: 1800 818 088






Webhttp://www.crowncasino.com.au

Located on the southern bank of Melbourne's Yarra River, Crown offers a brilliant combination of state-of-the-art technology, unsurpassed luxury and non-stop excitement. Crown has something to meet every need and match every mood. With 500,000 square metres of beautifully appointed space spanning two city blocks, Crown delivers an inspiring and exceptional range of choice. World class shopping and dining, luxurious and indulgent accommodation, dynamic gaming areas and exciting live entertainment are just the starting points for any exploration of Crown.

Crown offers some of Melbourne's finest and most cosmopolitan dining overlooking the Yarra River and city skyline. From masterful Japanese cuisine at the award winning Koko and authentic Chinese dishes at Silks to traditional Mediterranean food in the sophisticated yet casual surrounds of Breezes and modern French cuisine at the brasserie by Philippe Mouchel you're spoilt for choice at Crown.

Experience a wide range of prestigious brands including Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Prada and more. Lifestyle apparel includes French Connection, Guess, Beach Culture, just to name a few, all within a short stroll of each other. If you appreciate elegance, adore good design and live for style, you'll love shopping at Crown.

Crown Casino is one of the largest and most dazzling gaming facilities in the southern hemisphere. Crown offers an incredible array of gaming options in a vibrant and sophisticated setting. The main gaming floor of the casino stretches for more than half a kilometre and includes a series of smaller themed rooms designed to match the way you want to play. From the discreet and exclusive atmosphere of the Mahogany Room to the glamour of the Teak Room and the exciting colour of the West End, Crown delivers an unparalleled gaming experience.

Makar Sankranti , (Uttarayan)

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:37:00 PDT

Makar Sankranti - January 14,

The festival of Makar Sankranti traditionally coincides with the beginning of the Sun's northward journey (the UTTARAYAN) when it enters the sign of Makar (the CAPRICORN). It falls on the 14th of January every year according to the Solar Calendar. This day is celebrated as a festival right from the times of the Aryans and is looked upon as the most auspicious day by the Hindus.

Makar Sankranti marks the commencement of the Sun's journey to the Northern Hemisphere (Makara raasi ), signifying the onset of Uttarayana Punyakalam, and is a day of celebration all over the country. The day begins with people taking holy dips in the waters and worshipping the Sun.

The evidence of this festival being lucky is found in our great epic Mahabharat wherein it is told that the great warrior-hero, Bhishma Pitamaha even after being wounded and lying on the bed of arrows, lingered on till Uttarayan set in, to breathe his last. It is believed that the person who dies on this auspicious day of Sankrant escapes the cycle of birth and re-birth and that his soul mingles with the Almighty.

The Indo Gangetic plain begins this day with taking dips in the Ganga and offering water to the Sun god. The dip is said to purify the self and bestow punya. Special puja is offered as a thanksgiving for good harvest. According to folklore, girls who take the holy dip get handsome husbands and boys get beautiful brides.

Til and Rice are two important ingredients of this festival. Til or sesame seed contain lot of oil and they therefore have a quality of softness in them. Therefore, firstly the use of til in sweets is good for health and secondly being soft their exchange means exchange of love and tender feelings.

This festival is celebrated differently in different parts of the country

In Maharashtra on the Makar Sankranti day people exchange multi-coloured tilguds made from til (sesame seeds) and sugar and til-laddus made from til and jaggery. Til-polis are offered for lunch and these are specialities of Maharashtra. Maharashtrian women are proud of their excellence in preparing these delicacies. While exchanging tilguls as tokens of goodwill people greet each other saying - "til-gul ghya, god god bola" meaning "accept these tilguls and speak sweet words". The under-lying thought in the exchange of tilguls is to forget the past ill-feelings and hostilities and resolve to speak sweetly and remain friends. This is a special day for the women in Maharashtra when married women are invited for a get-together called "Haldi-Kumkoo" and given gifts of any utensil, which the woman of the house purchases on that day.

In Gujarat Makar Sankrant is observed more or less in the same manner as in Maharashtra but with a difference that in Gujarat there is a custom of giving gifts to relatives. The elders in the family give gifts to the younger members of the family. The Gujarati Pundits on this auspicious day grant scholarships to students for higher studies in astrology and philosophy. This festival thus help the maintenance of social relationships within the family, caste and community.

In Punjab where December and January are the coldest months of the year, huge bonfires are lit on the eve of Sankrant and which is celebrated as "LOHARI". Sweets, sugarcane and rice are thrown in the bonfires, around which friends and relatives gather together. The following day, which is Sankrant is celebrated as MAGHI. The Punjabi's dance their famous Bhangra dance till they get exhausted. Then they sit down and eat the samptions food that is specially prepared for the occasion.

Holi, The Festival of Colours

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:20:00 PDT

Holi (also called Holaka or Phagwa) is an annual festival celebrated on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna (early March). It celebrates spring, commemorates various events in Hindu mythology and is time of disregarding social norms and indulging in general merrymaking.

Holi is probably the least religious of Hindu holidays. During Holi, Hindus attend a public bonfire, spray friends and family with colored powders and water, and generally go a bit wild in the streets.

History and Meaning of Holi

Celebrated all over India since ancient times, Holi's precise form and purpose display great variety. Originally, Holi was an agricultural festival celebrating the arrival of spring.

This aspect still plays a significant part in the festival in the form of the colored powders: Holi is a time when man and nature alike throw off the gloom of winter and rejoice in the colors and liveliness of spring.

Holi also commemorates various events in Hindu mythology, but for most Hindus it provides a temporary opportunity for Hindus to disregard social norms, indulge in merrymaking and generally "let loose."

The legend commemorated by the festival of Holi involves an evil king named Hiranyakashipu. He forbade his son Prahlad from worshipping Vishnu, but Radhu continued to do offer prayers to the god. Getting angry with his son, Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlad to sit on a pyre with his wicked aunt Holika who was believed to be immune to fire. (In an alternate version, Holika put herself and Prahlad on the fire on orders from her brother.)

Prahlad accepted the challenge and prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire started, everyone watched in amazement as Holika was burnt to death, while Prahlad survived without a scar to show for it. The burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi. According to some accounts, Holika begged Prahlad for forgiveness before her demise, and he decreed that she would be remembered every year at Holi.

'Celebration of Spring by Krishna and Rama'
18th cent. painting
(Guimet Museum, Paris)

An alternative account of the basis of the holiday is associated with a legend involving Lord Shiva, one of the major Hindu gods. Shiva is known for his meditative nature and his many hours spent in solitude and deep meditation. Madana, the God of love, decided to test his resolve and appeared to Shiva in the form of a beautiful nymph. But Shiva recognized Madana and became very angry. In a fit of rage he shot fire out of his third eye and reduced her to ashes. This is sometimes given as the basis of Holi's bonfire.

The festival of Holi is also associated with the enduring love between Lord Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu) and Radha, and Krishna in general. According to legend, the young Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about why Radha was so fair and he so dark. Yashoda advised him to apply colour on Radha's face and see how her complexion would change. Because of this associated with Krishna, Holi is extended over a longer period in Vrindavan and Mathura, two cities with which Krishna is closely affiliated.

Krishna's followers everywhere find special meaning in the joyous festival, as general frivolity is considered to be in imitation of Krishna's play with the gopis (wives and daughters of cowherds).

Holi Rituals and Customs

Holi is spread out over two days (it used to be five, and in some places it is longer). The entire holiday is associated with a loosening of social restrictions normally associated with caste, sex, status and age. Holi thus bridges social gaps and brings people together: employees and employers, men and women, rich and poor, young and old. Holi is also characterized by the loosening of social norms governing polite behavior and the resulting general atmosphere of licentious merrymaking and ribald language and behavior. A common saying heard during Holi is bura na mano, Holi hai ("don't feel offended, it's Holi").

On the evening of the first day of Holi, a public bonfire is held, commemorating the burning of Holika. Traditionally, Hindu boys spend the weeks prior to Holi combing the neighborhood for any waste wood they can find for the bonfire. The fire is lit sometime between 10 PM and midnight (at the rising of the moon), not generally in an orderly fashion. Everyone gathers in the street for the event, and the air rings with shouts, catcalls, curses and general mayhem.

The central ritual of Holi is the throwing and applying of colored water and powders on friends and family, which gives the holiday its common name "Festival of Colors." This ritual is said to be based on the above story of Krishna and Radha as well as on Krishna's playful splashing of the maids with water, but most of all it celebrates the coming of spring with all its beautiful colors and vibrant life.

In Bengal, Holi features the Dolayatra (Swing Festival), in which images of the gods are placed on specially decorated platforms and devotees take turns swinging them. In the meantime, women dance around and sing special songs as men spray colored water at them.

References

"Holi." John Bowker, ed., Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions (Oxford UP, 2000), p. 248.
"Holi." Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. 23 Jan. 2005 <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=9040780>.
"Holi - the festival of colours." IndiaExpress.com 23 Jan. 2005 <http://www.indiaexpress.com/faith/festivals/holi.html>.
"Holi - a gorgeous festival of colour and merriment." Indian Women Online 23 Jan. 2005 <http://www.indianwomenonline.com/womenhome/indianmosaic/festival/holi/happyholi.asp>.

Melbourne Central, Melbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:11:00 PDT

Melbourne Central Shopping Center
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Melbourne Central is a large shopping, office, and public transport hub in the city of Melbourne, Australia. The complex includes the Melbourne Central Shopping Centre, which was refurbished in 2005 by architects Ashton Raggatt McDougall; the Melbourne Central railway station (a part of the City Loop underground railway and formerly called Museum); and the 211 m high office tower with its distinctive black colour and two communications masts.

History

Contained underneath the shopping centre's massive glass cone sits the Coop's Shot Tower which was built on the site between 1889 and 1890. It ceased to be used in 1960. The tower was retained to become a focal-point of the centre.

The original design of the shopping centre, office tower, and railway station was by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa. The shopping centre's original primary tenant was the first Australian branch of the Daimaru department store, which closed in 2002 after a decade of unprofitable operation. Daimaru also briefly had an operation on the Gold Coast in Queensland, which also closed.

The renovated centre, with a postmodern design, by architects Ashton Raggatt McDougall, aimed to open the complex to more natural light, new street-front shopping strips, and bubble-like additions to the footbridge across Little Lonsdale Street, but largely compromised the geometrical modern themed design of Kurokawa.

Shopping & Cafe

Melbourne Central has blossomed into an urban inner-city precinct presenting a style-laden destination for shopping, eating & entertainment. There are over 300 stores to explore in a unique and modern architectural space, reflecting the diversity and evolution of the Melbourne CBD.

Not only is Melbourne Central the destination in fashion, it is also the place for entertainment within the new On3. Catch a movie at the new eleven-screen Hoyts cinema, enjoy the fun of Spin Bowling or grab a bite to eat at any of the late night bars and cafes.

Melbourne Central is supported by an abundance of parking and public transport, and is conveniently located above the Melbourne Central train station.

Melbourne Central. A great place to visit.

Polly Woodside & Maritime Museum, Melbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Jigesh Desai) — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:45:00 PDT

Polly Woodside & Maritime Museum, Melbourne

The Polly Woodside is a British built, three-masted, iron-hulled barque, preserved in Melbourne, Australia and forming the central feature of the Melbourne Maritime Museum. The ship was originally built in Belfast by William J. Woodside and was launched in 1885. The Polly Woodside is typical of thousands of smaller iron barques built in the last days of sail, intended for deep water trade around the world and designed to be operated as economically as possible.

restoration

The survival of the Polly Woodside is in part due to her having been noticed by the US sailing ship enthusiast, Kark Kortum, during a visit to Melbourne in 1946. In 1961 he aroused the interest of E Graeme Robertson, a Councillor of the National Trust with a particular interest in and great knowledge of wrought and cast iron, who was mainly responsible for saving the ship.

By 1968, Rona was the last square-rigged, deep water, commercial sailing ship still afloat in Australasia. In that year the then owner, Howard Smith Industries, sold it to the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) for one cent, for restoration under her original name.

Extensive and meticulous research was undertaken and from 1972-78 the Polly Woodside was restored: not to sail again, but to be a museum ship where visitors could discover and understand both the technical aspects of a nineteenth century sailing ship and the experience of life aboard for the crew.Much of the work of restoring the ship was done by a dedicated band of volunteers, many of whom are still involved with the continued hard work of keeping Polly ‘ship shape’.

For more that forty years Polly has been a much loved source of joy to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who have climbed aboard to experience life about a true ‘Cape Horner’.

In 2007, the ship was added to the Victorian Heritage Register and now enjoys the highest level of State heritage protection.

Contact

Polly Woodside
C/o National Trust of Australia (Victoria)
4 Parliament Place
East Melbourne 3002

Enquiries: Tanya Williams

Telephone: (03) 9656 9800

Email: polly@nattrust.com.au

from http://www.pollywoodside.com.au/about_polly_woodside